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Churches must fight gun crimes
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Britain's Christian community want to see churches play a greater role in the fight against gun and knife violence, says a major new survey.
Over 3,000 churchgoers responded to the survey, Church Consultation on Violent Crime, which was organised by Premier Radio, in conjunction with the Metropolitan Black Police Association (MBPA).
The survey is a follow-up to the prayer walk that saw over 2,000 Christians march against gun crime in south London in February this year.
The survey said that 89 per cent think the church must help address gun and violent crimes and over 50 per cent of respondents said they would welcome an invitation to be part of a Christian response to violent crime. The figure rose to 66 per cent for those living in high-crime areas.
partnership
The survey also reveals that many churches are running programmes to tackle violent crime through prayer activity, youth work, outreach and partnership with other organisations.
The report comes at a time when society has major concerns about the rising gun and knife crimes prevalent in society, particularly among young people and where the black community is asking what the church is doing to tackle the issue?
Over 20 young people have died from gun-and-knife crime in London alone, with many more across the country. Two weeks ago, 16-year-old teenager, Jonathan Motondo, who wanted to be a priest, died from a single gunshot wound to the head in Sheffield.
Church members are not immune from the impact of violent crime. Many of the young teenagers who have been killed during the course of the year were either ardent churchgoers or the children of Christians.
Bevan Powell, deputy chair of the MBPA said, "We have been looking at the issue of violent crime for seven years, and we believe the Church has a role to play in reducing violent crime. We knew there was a demand from churches to engage with the issue."
It is now hoped that church leaders will use this consultation report as a tool to combat gun-and-knife crime and get inspiration from its recommendations to get more involved.
Published: 28 October 2007
Issue: 1293
